When we are not sufficiently nurtured in childhood, we are inclined toward anxiety, depression, addiction and other forms of suffering. In a deep way, we do not feel at home with others. We are disconnected from our own body, heart and spirit. In this blog post, I offer you some resources and questions to explore to work through old wounds, so you can step into your life with an open-hearted presence.

Journaling is a great way to get in touch with yourself and learn something about who you are. There are so many aspects to understanding your character. Here are a few journalling techniques to consider and support you toward becoming the best version of yourself.

Ever wondered why Ayurveda recommends a no garlic and onion diet? While there are numerous health benefits of both onion and garlic, why does Ayurveda suggest food without these two basic ingredients? In Ayurveda, onion and garlic are more like medicine than food items. Ayurveda categorizes food on the basis of rasas (taste) and gunas. It defines the nutritional properties of food based on six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent and gunas or qualities, which are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Onions and garlic are considered to be Tamasic and Rajasic respectively, which means they are pungent in nature and result in an increase of bile and heat in the body.

We need all three of the maha gunas to experience life. Tamas is present in sleep, though too much leads to laziness. Rajas can lift you out of tamas and allow you to move through your day, but too much creates anxiety and mental unrest. Cultivate sattva by actively choosing it over excessive tamas and rajas. This will support you in the direction of finding inner peace. When you walk with sattva, the changes you’d like to see in your life fall into place naturally, over time and with little effort.

Mantras are the most important part of the spiritual and mental therapy of Ayurveda. They are used to support healing from psychological and psychic imbalances, which stem from disturbances of the mental field. A mantra of the opposite quality is used to bring about a harmonious and neutralized state. They are easy to use and have no harmful side effects, nor do they require tedious or painful deliberation.

I realize milk is a controversial issue, but when we know how to cook, prepare, and eat our food medicinally it can promote healing, longevity, and vitality. Dairy isn’t bad for you, it could be a simple misunderstanding of how to best ingest this wonderful Ayurvedic food staple.

Pranayama refers to the art of yogic breathing. It is an ancient tool used to calm the breath, and consequentially the mind and senses.

Simplify your cooking, simplify your life, and heal your digestion by cutting out the noise of modern diet trends and the like and introducing the basic principles of Ayurveda into your cooking.

Despite grief and bereavement being a natural part of life, navigating grief isn’t an easy journey—whether it is because of a death, chronic illness, losing a job, divorce, moving, or any other loss. Be kind and gentle to yourself in these times.

Develop a sustainable yoga practice for lifelong wellbeing. When we practice from the inside out, we can foster a physical yoga practice that is medicine for the mind, body and spirit. The sooner you can begin practising with ahimsa the brighter you will shine from within which will radiate outwards. Not only will this mean greater connection to Self, but this will also translate to a greater connection with others. After all, yoga is intimacy.

According to Ayurveda, good health, longevity, and balanced agni all go hand in hand. Conversely, most imbalances and diseases are a result of compromised agni. It’s that simple. Balanced agni is the key to living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life. Otherwise, impaired agni is a surefire way to court imbalance, disease, and discontent.

Looking for a guilt-free cookie that is delicious and nutritious? Give this recipe I try. I promise you they are delightful! Just ask my friends.

The practices of Ayurveda support us in illness prevention, but the science also has a lot to say about what to do in those times when you do get sick. Try this simple recipe to support you in times of illness or if you are looking for a go-to breakfast that is easy to digest. Either way, it’s just what the body needs. Until symptoms subside, let go of your daily responsibilities, stay in bed, avoid looking at computers or screens and, most importantly, eat only very simple foods. Give your mind, body, and spirit the rest it needs. Be kind to your Agni and be kind to yourself.

When we gently cook fruit with a little ghee and spices, this can be a perfect and filling breakfast. A great way to measure is to fill both of your hands. Fruit is a delicious and nourishing way to begin the day.

Just reminder! Fruit digests much quicker than other foods, therefore it’s best to enjoy it away from other meals, hence having it for your first meal of the day. However, as you will see in this recipe, having a good portion of fruit is key. Chewing it thoroughly and in some cases slightly stewing the fruit will also enhance digestibility and feeling satiated.

The poem describes the many ways in which we attempt to avoid all sorts of physical and emotional pain. It also highlights how recognizing pain and accepting it can increase self-knowledge and improve self-care. Be kind to yourself as you reconnect with the innate wisdom that is your body.

Do you struggle with fear or anxious feelings? These are expressions of excess vata. Let’s take a deeper look from an Ayurvedic perspective!

Not sure what to wear? Get inspired by Vedic Astrology’s ancient wisdom to support your choices. Now you can feel good and look good!

Your values guide your decisions and set the tone for how you live your life.

But how do you know if you’re really living your values? Here are a few tips and tricks to get started!

Little things you can start doing today to better understand your emotional landscape!

Nourish your nervous system with the self-love practice of abhyanga!